Cutting-machine



B. HADAwAY.

CUTTING MACHINE. APFLICATIONTILED APR. 29. 1918.

1,389,654, Batentedsept. 6,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

n a l@ uw:

.|.B. HADAWAY.

CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILI-:D APII. 29, 191.8.

- PatentedSept. 6, 1921.

2 sIIEEI/s-SIIEE'T 2.

/A/ Vif/V717@ UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE..

JOHN B. HADAWAY, or' sWAivrPseorT, MnsseeHUsE'rTs, AssIeNoR `To UNITED snor:k YMACHINERY CORPORATION, ror-infifriiasoN,Niivv JERSEY, A CORPORATON 0F irasae'ai.v

oU'rTINe-MACHINE.

Patented sept. 6,1921.

`Application filed April 29, 1918. i Serial No. 231,349.

T 0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known thatr I, JOHN B. HADAWAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Swampscott, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Cutting-Machines, of

which the 'following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is

teristics throughout. ,In operating on sheetr materials presenting qualities which ,vary in different portions oft each 'sheetn it becomes a matter or importance that theoperative should have suiiicient light to permit of thorough inspection of the material and space to enable him to adjust the die in accordance with his judgment as to the proper location thereof. y

It is an object o'l the presentinvention to provide an improved construction in which the cutting Vbed and the means Afor exerting pressure on a die located on material on the cutting bed shall be so related that suilicient light and space may be obtained to locate the die most advantageously upon material having variable characteristics, and in which means is provided for insuring eifective op! eration ot' the pressure applying. means so that the die is caused invariably to effect a dieing-out operation on the work.

Inthe preferred form oi the invention a crosshead and a cutting bed or block "are mounted 'for relative movement toward and from each other and a presser member is provided as the immediate means for applying pressure to the die on the material, the construction being such that the presser bers.

member is (Jo-extensive with a very considerable portion of the cutting block so that no caretul or painstaking adjustment of the presser member with respect tothe die is 'necessary preliminaryfto the cutting operation which vtakes placeduring the relative movement of the 'crosshead and cutting block. d f In a practical formoic'the invention, the crosshead is mounted for movement toward and 'from the cutting block, the presser member being arranged to move with the crosshead-"to 'effect the lforcing of the die l through material on' the cutting block. Preferably the presser member is pivoted on the crosshead adjacent to one endthereof and is movable laterally relatively Vthereto to admit et the die being placed upon material on the cutting block under the most favorable Aconditions as -to space and light.`

vAmong other features of importance may be mentioned the Aprovision of a plurality of presser members arranged to be operated bythe crosshead, the construction and arrange-y ment being such that a die may be operated upon by both presser members simultaneously, or either presser member maybe caused to apply singly an operative'stroke to a die properly rj iositoned with respect.

thereto.r Freferably electrical means are provided 'for causing instantaneously the application, of power to the crosshead to operate either or both of the presser mem- Inasmuch rangement described adds greatly `tothe eiliciency of both operative and machine. Ina

practical term of the invention a' switch, in'

an electrical circuit comprised in the electrical means referred j to above, 1s mounted upon each of the presser lmembers in a location readily accessible to theoperative `for as' this application of. power is attained at a very minimum of efi'iort onfthe part of the operative, the a`r` drawings, will be pointed out in the following detailed description and included in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of one embodiment of the cutting machine;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along Vthe line 2 2,` FigQl; y f Fig. 3 is a detailview showing a solenoid in connection with the starting treadle;

Fig. 4 is a section along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2, the said section extending into a part of the crossheadl to show the means for holding the presser member, in adjusted position with respect to the crosshead; and

Fig. 5 is a section through thesolenoid shown in Fig. 3. i

In the illustrative machine, the reference character 6 designates the frame of the ma chineupon which is mounted a member S which serves as a support for the cutting block 10. Preferably, the support 8 is slidably mounted in the frame so that it may be adjusted vertically to raise or lower the cutting block, the adjustment being effected through screw threaded members operated in the usual way through hand wheels 12.

Mounted in the frame 6 is the main shaft 14 carrying the loose-pulley 16 which may be clutched thereto by means of any wellknown type of acne-revolution non-repeating clutch partly disclosed at 18. Extending upwardly from yoles movably attached to eccentrics, one at each end of the main sha, are pitmen 20, connected in pairs between the yoles and the ends of the crosshead 22, the arrangement being such that one revolution of the mainshaft 14 causes a complete reciprocation of the crosshead in a direction toward yand from the cutting block 10. Located between the crosshead 22 and the cutting' block 10 are presser members 24, the same being mounted preferably on the crosshead, by means of posts to move with the crosshead in its reciprocatiens. In order to assist in guiding the presser' members during their reciprocations and in order.

to prevent any tendency to distortion when pressure is applied to dies on the work the posts 26 are guided in passageways 28 in the member 8. The cutting bed may be lcompletely uncovered to enable the operative to place the die most advantageously upon the material te be cut, the presser members being mounted so that they may be displaced to one side. Preferably this movement is provided for by mounting the posts 26 rotatably in both the crosshead 22 and the member 8. Extending upwardly fromthe body portion of each pressure member and also from the extremity thereof is a plurality of postsor extensions 30, the said extensions being connected in pairs at their upper ends by crossbars 32, said crossbars being'connected in turn by a plate 34 extending longitudinally of the under surface of the crosshead 22. The construction thus described has the y purpose of transmitting pressure from crosshead 22 to the presser members evenly at a plurality of points in each presser member. An important feature of the machine shown and described resides in the `provision of means, here embodied in acrosshead ,con struction, for forcing the presser member down onto the die constructed to apply sulficient pressure to the presser member to accomplish the cutting of a blank or blanks at each operation of the machine with the greatest regularity. The presser member is so mounted and operated that any tendency to distortion of the presser member itself or of its supporting parts, under, the great strains imposed during the operation of the machine, is taken care of most efficiently. This isa matterv of importance in kany type f ofcutting machine but particularly so in the present `construction wherein the presser member is mounted for movementlaterally of the cutting block to uncover the same during positioning of the die or dies. It will be noted that each rextension is adjustably connected at its lower end to the'V presser meniber and at its upper end to the crossbars 32, the arrangement beingsuch thatcioss bars '32 and connecting bar 34 may be so adjusted as te bring their combined upper surfaces into a position just short of contact withthe crosshead 22 when the latter is in its uppermost position. In order to provide for holding the presser member in proper relation to the crosshead during the reciproci*- tions thereof, a spring pressed locking means 3G is mounted in one of the crossbars 32 in such a' position that it may cooperate selectively with any one of aplurality of openings 38 in the under surface of crosshead 22. .ltwill be understood, however, that any other ferm of holding means than that shown might be employed to secure the presser Vmember in proper relation Vto the crosshead.

Heretofore ithas been the custom in cutting machines of -the type to provide a vtreadle mechanism for tripping the clutch when it was desired'to throw the machine into operation. `This mechanism has been retained in the present embodiment of the invention and is disclosed in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, wherein said, mechanism is shown as consisting of levers40 secured to a crossbar 42 extending through the frame of the machine, the two outside levers each having attached thereto a rod44 connected by a bell crank` 45 to a linli 47 for operating the clutch mechanism through the connections shcwn. rThe t1eadle,romprising atread portioni which extends across andy issecurely attached to the treadle levers 40, is normally held in its upward position by .IILGHHS of ya spring 46 .Conlld With 2l treadle at itsk forward end andto ay crossbar] form of solenoid 48y attached to the middle treadle lever 4.-() and at its upper end to a stationary Vextension 50 ofA the Lmachine i'ran'ie. Passage of a current through the solenoid results in a downward movement of Vtlierod 49 (Fig. 5) andhence ofthev treadle lever with the resultant shitting` of the clutch to cause one revolutionv of the main shaft. The device 4:8 is in two electri- Cal circuits consisting in part of wires 5 2 l which lead to a source of electrical energy Vve5 y oi` the machine.

not shown, each circuit containing a switch located at a point readily accessible to the operative. In the present embodiment ot the invention `each switch 54: is located upon one oi. the presser members. Thus in the operation oi'- the machine the crosshead may be caused to descend to drive a die through the material voii the cutting block through the interposition ot one or both presser members .2li upon the proper manipulation of one et the switches 54. Should the -operav tive be placingr the die upon material at the right of thecutting block in Fig. 1, he will oi' course use the switch located upon the presserV member at the right of the machine. It both the presser members are being used tooperate upon a plurality of dies, or upon one die located under the adjacentends of the presser members, both` presser members will be caused "to descend Asimultaneously u pon proper manipulation ot either switch.

Controlof the operation ofV the presser mem`r ber in a cutting` machine by electrical means is claimed broadly in the copending applica-` tion of J.L B. Hadaway, Serial No. 207,869, tiled Dec.: 19, 1917. Q A The manner of operation of the machine will be obvious from the facts set forth in the abovedetailed description Vof theV parts However, the manner of euttinrgcut blanks from sheet material may be brieiiy set forth as follows: With the presser members 2li positioned laterally out ofthe way in positions indicated by dotted lines'iii Fig. 2 .of the drawings, aA sheet of material isplaced'iipon the cutting.,r block 10. It .is obvious that Vwith the presser-members sok located suiiicient light ispermitted ac-` cess to inspect the inaterialas to its various qualitiesiii order to decideupon the proper location of the dieand toplace the die in` accordance withtlie location decided upon.

4Another feature vof importance in this con-V struction and arrangement is` foundiinfthe itactY that the operative may manipulate the material'. and the die withabsolute safety to himself while Vthe presserr member is at one. sident the cutting'bed. WhenA the die has beenproperly positioned, the presser member 'is/returned "to, operative position oyer tlie-.diebymeansof a handlev'k provided for that purpose, and the machine is then. operated at the will of the operative. VIt the ydie 'be located atthe center part of the longitudinal dimension of the cutting bed, both rpresser members will be drawn,"

forwardly in position over the die and autoi matically locked in such position. .It a plu-A rality voit dies are placed upon the cutting bed so that one or more of the dies is under each presser member both presser members will be brought into operative position. On the other handg if but one die is used-l at Va time and that properly located with respect to one of the presser members, .the lother presser member may be left in inoperative position. In any case, operation of the ma'- vchine canxbe most easily and quickly initiated simply by manipulationof oneof the switches 54 `ion thepresser members.

I-Iaving described my invention, what I claim as new and desire -to secure byLetf ters Patent of the United States is v1. Ina machine of the class described, a cutting block and a crosshead relatively movable toward and from each other, and a presser member co-extcnsive with approximately one-balil yof: the 'cutting block and mounted for movement .from and into posiw tion over the block between said block and crosshead. i l I 2. In a'pmachineof the class described, a cut-ting block .and a crosshead relatively reciprocable toward and Yfrom each other, and

a presser member arranged for movement to a fixed position relative to thecutting block for cooperation.. invariably. .with a certain predetermined portion of the cutting Vblock during cutting. operations and mounted for reciprocatory movements in different directions along paths angularly related to each other.r l Y 3. In a machine oi the class described, a cuttingblockjand a crosshead relativelyreciprocable toward and troinweach other, a presser member niountedto swing intoV and out ci position between the block and crosshead, `positive means for holding 4the presser member in operative position. l

' 4. In a machine of the class described, 'a

block, acrossli'eadv reciprocable. .towardand fromptlie block, a presser member movable from andpinto position between the block and crosshead, and a support for said member operatively connected to said; framey and to said crosshead. Y p

5. In ainachine of the class described, a cutting "block, a c'rosshe'ad reciprocable iio` cutting block, a Aframe for supporting'said y toward and fromrthe block, and a presser member co-extensive with approximately one-half of the cutting. block and pivoted on the erosshead and movable tlierewithi n "6. In a machine of the class describedfa i head to the presser member throughout sub-.

cutting block, a Acrosshead reciprocable toward and from the block, and a presser member arranged to sustain a fixed relation to the cutting block for coperation invariably with the same portion of the cutting block and mounted for reciprocatory movements in both horizontal and vertical planes in functioning in cooperation with the block and crosshead. i n

7. In a machine of the class described, a cutting block and a crosshead relatively movable toward and from each other, a presser member mounted for movement independent of the crosshead from and into position over the block and constructed and arranged to be given an operative movement by the cross head when in position over the block, and means for determining the operative position of the presser member with respect to the block. l.

8. In a machine of the class described, a cutting block, Aa crosshead reciprocable toward and from the cutting block, and a presser member .operated invariably from approximately one-half of the under surface of the crosshead, the arrangement vbeing such that pressure is applied from the crossstantially the entire area of the latter, whereby distortion or displacement of the presser member about any horizontal aXis while under pressure is prevented.

9. In a machine of the class described, a cutting block, a crosshead reciprocable toward and from the cutting block, a presser member, and means for locking the presser member in various positions with relation to the crosshead.

10. In a machine of the class described, a cutting block, a crosshead reciprocable toward and from the cutting block, a presser member, and means for locking the presser member automatically as it arrives in parallel relation with the crosshead.

11. In a machine of the class described, a

cutting block7 a crosshead reciprocable to-V ward and from the block, and a presser member having a surface extending over the greater part of the length of the presser member from its point of support for engagement with the under surface of the crosshead.

12. In a machine of the class described, a cutting block, a crosshead reeiprocable toward and from the block, and a presser member' having an upward extension above its free end, said extension having a surface arranged to engage with the under surface of the crosshead, the construction and arrangement being vsuch that the presser member has pressure4 applied thereto from approximately one-half of the presser surface of the crosshead. 5

13. Inv amachine of the class described,a cutting block, a crosshead .reciprocable 4to- Ward and from the block, and a presser Vmember spaced from the crosshead and havable dies, a cutting block anda crosshead relatively movable toward and from each other, and a presser member co-extensive with approximately one-half of the cutting block, movable laterally of the crosshead and operative during relative/movement of thejcrosshead and block toward each other for forcing the die through sheet material on the cutting block. o

16. Ina machine for cutting blanks from sheets of material by means of freely movable dies, a cutting block and a crosshead relatively movable toward and from each other, and a presser member mounted on a ivot extending across the ends of the crossead and cutting block, movable from and into operative position between thecrosshead and block and operable during relativeV movement of the crosshead and block toward each other for forcing the die through sheet material on the `cutting block. 17. In a machine for cutting blanks from sheets of material by means of freely movable dies, a cutting block, a crosshead reciprocable toward and from said block, and a presser member pivotally mounted on said crosshead at oneextremity of the longitudinal axis thereof for reciprocation therewith and operable to force adie through sheet material on the cutting block.

1,8. In a machine for cutting blanks from Y sheets ofmaterial by means of freely movable dies, a cutting block vand a crosshead relatively movable toward and from each other,fand applurality ofpresser members presenting presser surfaces together substantiallycoextensive with the surface of the cutting block and operative either selectively or together during relative movement of the crossheadand block toward each other for forcing the die or dies through sheet material on the cutting block. M

` 19. In a machine for cutting blanks from sheets of material by means of freely movable dies, a cutting block and a crosshead relatively Vmovable towarduand vfrom each other, and a plurality of presser members mounted so that each may be moved out of and into operative position and presenting electrical of the presser when all are `in operative position a presser surface substantially coeXtensive with the surface of the cutting block and operative to force a die or dies through sheet material on the cutting block when relative movement of cutting block and crosshead takes place.

20. In a machine for cutting blanks from sheets of material by means 'of freely movable dies, a cutting block, a crosshead movable toward and from said block, and a plurality of presser members mounted to move with the crosshead and so arranged as to be capable of coperation as the crosshead descends in forcing a single die through sheet material on the block.

21. In aimachine for cutting blanks from sheets of material by means of freely movable dies, a cutting block, a crosshead movable toward and from said block, and a plurality of presser members constructed and arranged to be operated simultaneously as the crosshead descends to apply pressure to a die located opposite portions of more than one presser member.

' 22. In a machine for cutting blanks from sheets of material by means of freely movable dies, a cutting block andv a crosshead relatively movable toward and from each other, a pair of presser members mounted so that operative movement of one or both members takes place upon relative movement of crosshead and block, and electrical means comprising switches mounted one on each presser member for controlling the operation of the machine.`

23. In a machine for cutting blanks from sheets of material by means of freely movable dies, arcutting block and a crosshead relativelyvmovable toward and from each other, a pair of presser members mounted so that operative movement of one or both of the presser members takes place upon relative movement of crosshead and block, and controlling means` comprising switches mounted one on each presser memf ber.

24. In a machine for cutting blanks from sheets of material by means of freely movable dies, a cutting block, a crosshead movable toward and from theblock, a pair of presser members mounted to move with the crosshead, power means including a onerevolution clutch for causing reciprocations of the crosshead, a lever for controlling said clutch, and electrical means comprising a solenoid for operating said lever land a switch mounted in a position accessible to the operative for` controlling lsaid clutch.

25. In a machine for cutting blanks from sheets of materialby means of freely movable dies, a cutting block, a crosshead movable toward and from the block, presser members arranged to vbe operated upon movement of the'crosshead toward the cutting block, and electrical means comprising a switch mounted upon each presser member for controlling` the operation of the machine,

said means and switches being constructed and arranged to provide for-either conjoint and simultaneous or independent operation of the presser members at the will of the operator.V n Y 26. In a machine for cutting blanks from sheets of material by means 0f freely movable dies, a cutting` block and a crosshead relatively movable toward and. from each other, power means forcausing relative movement of crosshead and block, a presser member operative during` relative movement of the crosshead and block for forcing a dieI or dies through sheet material on the cutting block, a treadle lever for controlling said power means, and an electrical means comprising a solenoid forl operating said lever and a switch mounted on the presser member for controlling the operation of the power means.

27. In a machine for cutting blanks from sheets of material by means of freely movablezdies, `a cutting block and a crosshead relatively movable toward and fromweach other, power means comprising Va one-revolution clutch for causing relative movements of crosshead and block, presser members movable out of and into position to coperate with the cutting block and crosshead during relative movement of the latter to force al die or dies through sheet material on the cutting block, and electrical means comprising switches mounted one on each presser member for controlling the operation ofthe clutch. y 28. In a machine of the class described, a cutting block, a presser member mounted for movement laterally of the block and also for reciprocation toward and from the block, a frame for supporting the cutting block and presser member, and means comprising a cross-head having a surface arranged to apply pressure on the presser member for causing said reciprocation of the presser member, the pressure receiving and vpressure applying surfaces on the presser member approximating closely in size to the pressure applying surface on the crosshead, 'whereby greatypressure may be applied on a die located on the cutting block without danger of distortion of the presser membenand its supporting frame.

29. In a machine of the class described, a cutting block and a crosshead relatively movable from and toward each other, a presser member co-eXtensive with approximately one-half of the cutting block and arranged for movement from and int-o position between said crosshead and block, the construction and arrangement being such thatl the presser member maybe displaced from its operative position to permit of the die being positioned on Ythe material with absolute safety to the operative after Which the presser member may be returned to perative position over the die, and means for causing' the operation of the machine at the will 0f the operative.

30. In a machine of the class described, a Work supporting bed, a plurality of presser members having together a pressure surface substantially coextensive Withthe surface of the bed, and` means for operating a plurality ot the presser members simultaneously.

3l. In a machine of the class described, a Work supporting bed, a plurality of presser members supported above said bed and arranged in close juxtaposition to each other, and means for operating a plurality of the presser members simultaneously.

32. In a machine of the class described, a work supporting bed, a plurality of presser members supported above said bed and movable into and out of operative relation With respect to the bed, a crosshead having one ot said presser members supported adjacent to each end thereof, and means for causing a pressure applying operation of a presser member;

33. In a machine of the character described, a Work supporting bed, a plurality of presser members Supported above the bed for operation upon Work located on the bed,

and a single means for simultaneously op- J tween the crosshead and the cutting block to cover invariably the same predetermined portion of the cutting block to cooperate therewith during cutting operations.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN HADAWAY. 

